"He has got to approve it, they have to approve it," Showalter said. "So we're not there yet, but that's tentatively [the plan].

"Ideally, the last outing would be six innings if the other club would cooperate," Showalter added. "If these three options work out, he'd be an option for us. It's one thing being able to get through it, it's another thing to have people evaluate whether it will work up here."

The 35-year-old is rehabbing his left shoulder after having surgery in April 2013, the second surgery on the shoulder in a 31-month span.

Santana missed all of 2011 and 2013, and went 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts for the Mets in 2012. He also notched a no-hitter in June of 2012.

He is 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA in 360 career appearances (284 starts) in 12 major league seasons — eight with the Twins, four with the Mets — and is a four-time All-Star.

Orioles starters have a 4.66 ERA in 51 games, which is ranked 26th in baseball. Baltimore (26-25) is in third place in the AL East, 4.5 games behind the Blue Jays.